Honduras–Palestine relations

Honduras–Palestine relations refers to the links between the Republic of Honduras and the Palestine. Honduras recognized Palestine in 2011, a move in sharp contrast to a long-lasting legacy of close links between successive Honduran governments and Israel.[1]

On May 10, 2013 Honduras and Palestine established diplomatic links, at a ceremony in Tegucigalpa attended by the foreign ministers of both countries, Mireya Agüero and Riyad al-Maliki.[1][2][3] Al-Maliki also met with Honduras president Porfirio Lobo at the presidential palace.[3] The ambassador of Palestine, Mohamed Saadat, presented his credentials on September 13, 2013.[4]

Honduras has the largest Palestinian community in Latin America, after Chile.[1] The first recorded case of a Palestinian emigrant to Honduras dates back to 1899. The largest wave of Palestinian migration to Honduras took place between 1922 and 1931. Many of the migrants hailed from Bethlehem, Beit Jala or Beit Sahour.[5][6] The majority of Palestinian migrants to Honduras were Greek Orthodox.[7] There were also Maronite and Greek Catholic migrants.[8] A minority (roughly 15-20% at one point) were Muslims.[7] However, later most of the descendants of Orthodox migrants later adopted Catholicism.[9] Many Palestinian descendants have come to occupy important positions in Honduran society. A Palestinian descendant, Carlos Roberto Flores, was elected President of Honduras in 1998.[9]